Which term refers to the structural elements of literature such as characters, setting, conflict, plot, resolution, point of view, and theme?

• A. Narrative devices
• B. Character development
• C. The structural elements of literature
• D. Plot devices

Answer: (C)

These elements are the backbone of a story—the foundational parts that organize a narrative. Characters, setting, conflict, plot, resolution, point of view, and theme determine what the story is about and how it unfolds, shaping the reader’s experience from start to finish. The best term for describing this group is the structural elements of literature, because it names the building blocks that provide the overall framework of any literary work.

Narrative devices and plot devices refer to techniques and mechanisms used within a story—things like flashbacks, foreshadowing, or a twist—that help tell the story or move it along. Character development describes how a character changes, not the overall framework. So the term for the items listed is indeed the structural elements of literature.